"Yeah, yeah. I'm happy he came," he told ESPN. "I think the team is much stronger this season than last season.

"Obviously we lost Rooney as a legend for the club but we took three new players and with these three new players the team is stronger.

"For the first year going, the team has been winning some trophies and learning the sacrifice you have to do to win the trophies and the mental part and that is what the coach brought to the team, the mental thing, and me as a player also.

"The pressure you put to win the objectives you want to win and signing Lukaku makes us even stronger because he has different quality from me as a striker and Rashford as a striker.

"He is a powerful guy and will bring some extra quality in the game."

Ibrahimovic is happy the club signed the Belgian (Image: Manchester United)

On the issue of shirt numbers, Ibrahimovic says he let Lukaku have the number 9 to make him feel welcome.

He said: "Lukaku called me and he said, 'Bro can I get the number 9?'"

"I'm not on that level where I will make it difficult for you. I just want you to feel happy and feel welcome.

"So I give you the number 9. But I will take the number 10. That's the way we do it."

United were not the only club interested in signing Ibrahimovic despite his injury, with LA Galaxy and AC Milan also reportedly keen.

But the 35-year-old dismissed the possibility of not returning to Old Trafford.

"There were a couple of teams reaching out and wanting to have Ibracadabra in the team but I had such a great year with United and we had a great season," he added.

"We won three trophies, fantastic guys, a great club, a coach that I know from before and my family was happy. It's not always about the sporting thing you choose when you sign for the club.

Ibrahimovic damaged his knee in the Europa League last season (Image: Reuters)

"I'm in a situation where I have to think 360 degrees around me so everybody's happy like this and I'm so happy. Happiness has no value so this year I play for free - just like last year!"

Ibrahimovic finished as United's top scorer last season, with 28 goals, before suffering the first serious knee injury of his career against Anderlecht.

The Swede has bounced back remarkably well from the setback, putting in the hours at United's training base at Carrington, and is in great shape.